RE: PzC Kharkov '43 Just Released
I don't think anyone who is upset that JTS is now distributing the game digitally. No one begrudges the developers trying to make more out of their games and clearly cutting out a publisher middleman and producing cds saves money.
The problem is the e-license. It is whether the developers like to see it that way or not a slap in the face of honest customers. Many have been loyal customers for a long time. Faithfully buying the games over the years. In return, Tiller and crew have supported the games unlike many other developers in the business. Now to turn on customers and say you only get one license or maybe if we feel like it two is absurd. Even when the games were produced on cd, you could do one of three things. All known and supported. 1. Play with CD in drive. 2. Wait for the no CD patch 3. Make a master disc to stand in for the originals. The notion that now your customers who you previously trusted enough to teach how to make master discs to save the originals cd from wear or who you gave no cd check patches too are somehow so untrustworthy that they must only be allow one computer at a time is laughable.
I don't have a problem with serial number verification. I don't have a problem with serial number verification every time I want to patch up the game. I do this with another wargame publisher that many here are familiar with too.
The problem is the limits that are placed on honest customers about how often and when they are allowed to install a game they paid for to support the developer and play. It's same customers who have willingly paid out $30 - $50 + s/h to play and support Tiller games over the years. I hear the cries of piracy, but honestly if someone were going to use a torrent to download the game illegally it doesn't matter what a developer does to "protect" themselves. The ones who catch the brunt of the DRM is not the pirates. It's your loyal customers. The pirates were never going to buy the game anyway. This scheme does not change that fact.
The fact is the new DRM pushes away customers would have bought your games. Most likely would have bought games they have on cd again too. But instead Tiller and crew have pushed a good many people away with this license scheme. It's frankly a sad and frustrating day for this fan of the games. I cannot support this new DRM method. It is an insult. I wish the best of luck to John Tiller and crew. I don't want your sympathy and understanding about my position. I want the respect that a loyal customer deserves and this DRM scheme is not respect.
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